MPP's Passions

MPP's Bio

Familiarity:
I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:
True to size

Oh, that thing is feather-light!!! It's amazing how that weight can even be achieved... The workmanship is fantastic - the quality of the taping, attention to every detail is obvious. I also have a Marmot Precip jacket, which I like and have used extensively, but I have the feeling that in the long run this one would come on top hands down.

Familiarity:
I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:
True to size

I've done a lot of hiking without a proper hiking shirt; that's not the most important article in my arsenal. So I got a pair of these, a gray and a blue for half price. Worth every penny! Bottom line - wicks the moisture, feels cool, does the job.

Familiarity:
I've used it several times

Fit:
True to size

I didn't want to write a review after just testing the pants at home and around the block, I waited for a real test. That was in Yosemite high country at around 30F during the day and 17F at night (in a sleeping bag though). My overall conclusion is that they are great for hiking - soft, comfortable and quite well insulating. The fit is also good and seems true to size, somewhat contradicting what another reviewer stated. I usually go with a set of thermal underwear and soft shell, but these were just as good.

Familiarity:
I've put it through the wringer

I really wanted to like these boots, I was happy as a kid in a candy store when I got them and proud of my choice. I chose them after thorough research, reading good reviews, reports of no break in time, etc., but the major component for me was the eVent layer, which I find to be superior to Gore-Tex for moisture transport (and resident smell). I thought the price was a bargain for what I was buying. The first pair I bought was from Backcountry. They were labelled the same size, but had a difference of 1/4 inch in length. It took several emails and pictures between Kayland and Backcountry, but Backcountry eventually took the shoes back; thank you! The store didn't have another pair, so I bought them from GearX in Vermont (yes, I really wanted these shoes!) Out of the box the shoe fit great. I wore it a few miles to work every day for a month - no issues, the shoe felt like a glove. But when I put it on two-day test in Yosemite, I was in for a surprise - I've got dime-sized blisters on my heels after only a few miles before reaching Nevada Falls. I put moleskin but it only helped temporarily. The next day I had quarter-sized blisters on both feet. A closer inspection back home revealed bumps inside the shoe at the upper orange stitch in the image. Both shoes had that. I wore these on a few day hikes and had to quit after a few miles; the issue doesn't get any better. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with the shoes, because I can no longer return them and Kayland do not carry that model. I don't know if the production quality has gone down since the shoes manufacturing transferred to Romania, but out of two pairs I couldn't pick one...

Used these in a two-week 120-ish mile Alps trek, going 3000ft up 3000ft down almost daily. I iterated these with REI wool socks and both held up very well. My feet always felt dry and comfortable both in hot weather approaching 100F and in (not so) cold, around 45F trekking on snow.

I just love them! They are lightweight, dry quickly and are comfortable. Used them during a rather difficult off-route two week hike in the Alps (on which I lost 10% body weight...), and they kept me comfortable. Washed a pair every night and haven't seen major signs of wear and tear yet (just minor sticking). But as the previous reviewer said, I too wish the briefs would fit that way.